Julia Quinn: An Offer From a Gentleman

• ISBN-13: 9780380815586
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 7/28/2001
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 368

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball - or that "Prince Charming" would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight. 
 Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other - except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid's garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but his breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love? 

It's sort of like Julia Quinn knows my life. Or at least the story of Cinderella, anyway. You see, I was raised by my mother and grandparents, but was forced to spend every other weekend with my father and his wife, and their children. My father (now divorced from my stepmother, mwahaha) recently told me that I was Cinderella, which was a little upsetting if he knew that but didn't do anything. But I digress. The point is, my life was very much the Cinderella fairy tale, with the being forced to clean the house I only lived in four days out of the month and verbal abuse by the non-parent. There just wasn't a Prince Charming to come rescue me. I got out on my own. I told you that story not for sympathy, but because that might explain why I'm giving this book higher marks than I perhaps normally would. 

 Sophie Beckett is the illegitimate child of an Earl, a very difficult position to be in during the Regency period (or any time, really, let's be honest). Her circumstances are not as bad as they could be, however, as she is labeled as her father's "ward," and receives all of the luxuries that entails. That is, until he marries and brings in the fabled stepmother and two evil stepsisters. Or, in this case, one evil stepsister and one fairly kind but weak-minded stepsister. Sophie's life takes a distinct turn for the worse upon the death of her father, and she is forced into unpaid servitude.
 Enter Bridgerton Number Two, better known as Benedict. He falls in love with a mysterious lady at a masquerade ball (HMM WHO COULD THAT BE?) but loses her to the stroke of midnight, only to come across Sophie in rather unfortunate circumstances a few years later. Hijinks naturally ensue.
 What really struck me about this novel is the reality of it, as I've said. Some people are blessed with loving step-parents. I have one. The other one. He's more of a father to me than my actual father, which doesn't bother me in the least. However, every once in a while, you get those people that feel put upon to care for children that are not there own, for however brief a time. They believe that the other child is somehow detracting from the love and/or attention that they and their children deserve. I've seen it, I've experienced it, and so I relate to Sophie on a very personal level. Huge credit for that goes to Quinn for painting a realistic portrait of those emotions. She does, however, stray into "excuse me, what" territory with the final big fight between Benedict and Sophie. I felt that his anger there was a little unjustified and used mostly to motivate plot movement.
 Characterizations are fun and interesting, as usual. We see much more interaction between the younger three Bridgerton sisters, as Daphne has already had her story told and they are the only ones remaining in the house to received the attentions of ladies'-maid-Sophie. They always provide a healthy dose of humor at perfect moments i.e. the scone incident.
 The pacing of the novel was great, as well. I was never bored, nor did I feel that it moved too fast to be considered a novel. Again, Quinn is one of my favorite romance writers, mostly because her books deal with real emotional issues, for each character, and the sex is not all important to the books. The characters' relationships are based on emotions and getting to know the other, and less on physical desire, which is a nice change from other romance novels of today.
 Overall: A
 Again, giving this one higher scores than normal for personal reasons. But honestly, without those, it would still have been at least an A-.

Hideyuki Kikuchi: The Stuff of Dreams

• ISBN-13: 9781595820945
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Publication date: 9/13/2006
• Pages: 204

Even Vampire Hunters cannot resist the siren song of an ageless sleeping beauty.
 In a world where even the smallest and most remote village cannot avoid being terrorized by the monsters that stalk the night, there is a hamlet, prosperous and peaceful, where mortals and the vampire Nobility have coexisted for years. It is there that seventeen-year-old Sybille Schmitz has slept, neither waking nor aging, for thirty years since first receiving the vampire's immortal kiss.
 The mysterious Vampire Hunter known only as "D" is lured to the tranquil oasis by recurrent dreams of the beautiful undying girl bathed in an eerie blue light and dancing in a ghostly chateau. But there are a number of people who do not welcome the presence of the dhampir, fearing D will disturb the delicate balance upon which the fate of the town rests. They will stop at nothing to protect that balance, even if it it means destroying the most feared Hunter the world has ever known.

 In our beloved D's fifth adventure, he encounters a foe that he may not quite be able to deal with - not because he's so much stronger, but because he's a dream. What? Yes, that is indeed the plot. D finds himself called into someone's dream, to do what, we don't know. Neither does he.
 Once again, I found myself noticing Kikuchi's strange prose. It strays occasionally into cheesy and over the top territory, but after the first chapter or so, you get used to it and move on with your life. Also, I did notice that D talks a whole lot more in this installment than he has so far. Which is somewhat jarring, because you don't really expect him to explain his actions or ask questions - the D we know and love would just figure the mystery out on his own, based upon pure observation. So it's a little unusual in that respect. The plot, however, is fantastic.
 Kikuchi weaves a crazy complex story, that I only realized was so complex when I was trying to explain it to my dad. He didn't get it. I probably wasn't doing that well with my explanation, but it's not like he really cared, so I'm not going to be bothered about it. Suffice to say, it is well and truly a mind-fuck. Yes, guys, I did just drop my first f-bomb on this blog. We should through a party. Back to the plot, though. It leaves you wondering, definitely. Who was right? Did everything turn out as D expected? Were the characters happy with the choices they made? I leave those questions to you, as Kikuchi does. At the end, you're left to your own devices to decide how everything might have turned out. Because D doesn't much care, and Kikuchi certainly doesn't tell you.
 This novel is one of the shorter ones, so it flies by, but you hardly notice at what speed you're reading because the story is rather engrossing. And that's all I'll say about the plot. I'm done, I swear.
 Characterization: As I said before, D seems to be a little more open in this novel, which, honestly, displeases me a bit. One of the reasons I love D is that very stoicism that seems to be missing from The Stuff of Dreams. The other characters are pretty shallow since it is such a small novel. A novella, really. The only person that really interested me was Sheriff Krutz. He was just so wonderfully conflicted, and you felt a connection with him and his wife right at the moment you met them (separately, but the same feeling).
 Overall: B+
 Because of the smallness of the work, a lot was crammed in and characterization definitely suffered. But the story was fascinating and definitely set your brain to working, so that's why the score isn't lower. Although, I did enjoy it, so don't freak.

Jennifer Kloester: Georgette Heyer's Regency World

• ISBN-13: 9781402241369
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
• Publication date: 8/1/2010
• Pages: 400

Immerse yourself in the resplendent glow of Regency England and the world of Georgette Heyer...
 From the fascinating slang, the elegant fashions, the precise ways the bon ton ate, drank, danced, and flirted, to the shocking real life scandals of the day, Georgette Heyer's Regency World takes you behind the scenes of Heyer's captivating novels.
 As much fun to read as Heyer's own novels, beautifully illustrated, and meticulously researched, Jennifer Kloester's essential guide brings the world of the Regency to life for Heyer fans and Jane Austen fans alike.

I ADORE GEORGETTE HEYER. I'm going to scream that from the mountaintops someday, I swear. I mean, really, what's not to love? She's clever, she's funny, she's historically accurate, and her love stories are beautiful without being cheesy or overtly sexual like the romances of today. I highly recommend her to anyone and everyone.
 This book was not written by her, obviously. Rather, it was written about the world in which her characters lived with the intent that readers of her novels would gain a) an appreciation of how much work went into the accuracy of her portrayals and b) a greater understanding of the Regency period. It's beautifully organized and easily understood. There are lots of pictures and so some of the descriptions, such as the vehicles and the fashion that have lots of similar terms that are hard to distinguished, are made much easier to catalogue. The author is obviously a huge fan of Georgette Heyer's work (you would have to be, and besides, who isn't?) and she truly makes you realize how accurate Heyer was. I always heard she did a remarkable amount of research, but I suppose I never registered how much until I finished this book.
 I honestly don't really know what else to say, other than it was a very informative and interesting read that wasn't boring, which is high praise indeed for this kind of book.
 Overall: A
 As many pictures as there were, I would have liked a few more for the more refined distinctions amongst clothing and vehicle styles.

Voltaire: Candide

• ISBN-13: 9781593080280
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Publication date: 6/1/2003
• Pages: 176

Are evil and tragedy part of a cosmic plan that mere humans are blind to? Should we just accept our fates with the belief that everything happens for a good reason, that we live "in the best of all possible worlds?" 
 One of the finest satires ever written, Voltaire's Candide savagely skewers the very "optimistic" approach to life as a shamefully inadequate response to human suffering. The swift and lively tale follows the absurdly melodramatic adventures of the youthful Candide, who is forced into the army, flogged, ship-wrecked, betrayed, robbed, separated from his beloved Cunégonde, and tormented by the Inquisition. As Candide witnesses calamity upon calamity, he begins to discover that all is not always for the best. 
 Filled with wit, intelligence, and an abundance of dark humor, Candide is unsparing in its attacks upon corruption and hypocrisy - in religion, government, philosophy, science, and even romance. Ultimately, this celebrated work says that it is possible to challenge blind optimism without losing the will to live and pursue a happy life.

 I want everyone to read this. Seriously, I'm going to start giving it as a gift to people. It's deeply disturbing while being darkly humorous; you might not get it, although sometimes Voltaire definitely beats you over the head with what he's trying to say. But I give it a huge recommendation because I strongly believe that he points a giant finger at what is wrong with the world today - hypocrisy.
 We first meet Candide (yeah, that's the protagonist's name. Who knew?) as a young man not of the upper class. He falls head over heels for the daughter of the Count who owns the estate, and when they are discovered, Candide's life takes a turn for the worst. And I mean, the worst. But because he has unfailing faith in his tutor.....'s philosophy that all in the world is perfect because it is all as it should be. Voltaire openly scorns this idea, and it's really hard not to agree with him after watching Candide.
 From being sexually molested (implied) by some Bulgarians (now that's just mean) to being captured by the Inquisition and going on the run for multiple murders, Candide just can't catch a break. He's so gullible that he's robbed several times. These are not spoiler, because after the first couple of times these things happen, you realize - if there is the potential for something bad to happen or for someone to take advantage of our hero, it's going to happen. Just assume that at the start of every adventure. Oh, he has some gold? Assume that gold will be buh-bye by the end of the chapter. Shhh....I just saved you a lot of mental stress.
 Candide does eventually get his happy ending, although it is so incredibly back handed, I can't help laughing when I think about it. He gets to settle down with all the buddies he's met on his travels, but they're not satisfied because they spend all their time arguing the philosophy of life rather than living. A final lesson in the final chapter.
 Overall: A-
 There were several times that I gave a sharp bark of laughter, out loud, of pure shock at what I was reading. Quite frankly, I didn't even think that you could print the things Voltaire was writing about at the time. Rape, murder, theft, hypocrisy, all confronted with stunning frankness. However, his openness to the subjects leads to some very awkward and deeply disturbing moments. Plus, after a while the reader begins to feel themselves being beat down by the negativity and unfortunate lives and situations of every single character in the novel. Luckily, it's short in the extreme, so I don't have War and Peace proportions of residual depression.

Rachel Vincent: Alpha

• ISBN-13: 9780778328186
• Publisher: Mira
• Publication date: 10/1/2010
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 472

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.
 It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can - that will - change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.
 But life never waits until you're ready. 

Here we are again at the end of another series. A sad day for all. However, since it's a happy ending, we're not too sad to see it go.
 Faythe is having problems, again. These problems being a nearly seamless continuation of the problems in the previous novel, which had not arrived at a resolution. Calvin Malone is still practicing extreme douchebagger-y, but now Parker's father is pissed off because Faythe gave up his son Jerald to the Thunderbirds - perfectly justifiable, unless you're an ass. Which apparently half the cats in North America are. From what I can tell, in the Pride world, the men are either good guys or a combination of stupid, sadistic, or weak-willed. Thus, we have a fairly even divide between Malone's allies (the assholes) and Faythe's allies (the good guys).
 Now, I have spent a lot of time from basically the fourth book onward being incredibly frustrated with the political structure of the world that the characters inhabit. That's what I'm supposed to be feeling, so I'm not complaining, but one has to wonder why the toms all have medieval mentalities in the modern world. I understand that tabbies are not particularly prolific in the child-birthing department, but that doesn't mean that they automatically hand their lives over to the nearest Alpha male. This is really the core of the problem, other than Calvin's megalomania - the toms can't seem to understand Faythe's desire to be her own woman. Thus we have lots of "rape her because she's a woman and she's standing up to me and I don't know how to deal with that" going on. And I come to one of my issues with this book - many of the characters hit that one dimensional note I was talking about - stupid, sadistic, or weak. That's a little disappointing from someone that I know can do much more.
 My other problem with this book was the wrap up, of which he barely had one. The final big battle only lasted two chapters, and we had one chapter to basically resolve Faythe's relationship status and list the dead and wounded. Not really a wrap up. We know that the way Prides work is going to change, but we have no resolution of some of the basic problems. For example, how is Faythe going to deal with the remnants of Malone's allies? How is Paul Blackwell going to react to the all-out war that just occurred? Will he support Faythe's reign or continue to follow his chauvinistic beliefs? Is Jayce going to take over Malone's Pride? Lots of interesting paths to pursue, and while I appreciate that Vincent was leaving the future open for the reader to imagine, I would have appreciated a little more closure in the political arena.
 Other than that - I greatly enjoyed this book. Faythe has really grown up since Stray, and I was rather impressed with the way she handled the tension between Jace and Marc. Old Faythe might have yelled or run away from the problem - new Faythe merely asks for time and tries her best to maintain an even playing field. Any anger she displays is justified and she uses it to her advantage rather than letting it overwhelm her.
 Overall: A-
 The ending was too abrupt for my taste, but the rest of the book felt like it flew by. Vincent makes you weep, makes you laugh (not so much in this one), and makes you think about what you would do were you in that situation.

Charlaine Harris: Dead to the World

• ISBN-13: 9780441012183
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: 5/5/2005
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition description: Reprint
• Pages: 320

  It's not every day that you come across a naked man on the side of the road. That's why cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse doesn't just drive by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire - but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie's investigation into who and why leads straight into a dangerous battle among witches, vampires, and werewolves. But a greater danger could be to Sookie's heart - because this version of Eric is very difficult to resist...

 Sookeh and Beel are still on the rocks, and it's looking pretty perminent considering the distinct lack of Beel in this novel. He basically makes an appearance at the beginning to announce he's not going to be in this novel overmuch, and then at the end to help keep everybody from dying. Thanks, bro. Other than that, this installment is all about Sookie and the suddenly-memoryless Eric. 
 There's a new brood of witches in town, and I was shocked at how little they were actually in town. They are threatening basically the entire supernatural community of the area surrounding Bon Temps, yet they are easily dispersed at the end of the novel, and, frankly, don't seem terribly threatening to the actual supernatural community. They just feel more bitchy to me. But personal opinions are personal. I was actually kind of proud of Sookie in this novel. She put on her big-girl britches and managed to take care of all the people she had promised (to herself) she would. She stepped into her adult shoes with a little more eagerness than I was anticipating in certain areas, though. Can we all agree to acknowledge that she does sleep with Eric in this novel, since season four or whatever of True Blood basically follows this novel, and I think anyone who's ever heard anything about True Blood knows this. Okay, that's out of the way. She jumps into bed with him awful quick, though. Surprising. But you go, girl.
 We also have the introduction of some new characters that I feel will be around for quite a bit, namely the Hotshot community of shapeshifters. I kind of really like Calvin, although I couldn't tell you why, distinctly. He just seems really...cool. He also hits on Sookie with determination, and not because he likes her sparkling personality. I like that, and it makes me laugh a little. He's a strong leader and takes care of the shit his people deal out with no problem. I generally have a problem with characters in leadership positions who refuse to discipline their people or acknowledge their wrongdoing. No problem with that here. Bravo.
 Finally, we have Jason being less of an ass than usual, but that's through a lack of presence, really. His one significant contribution to the novel, taken under his own will, was a total ass-hat move that he portrayed as being in Sookie's interest, but was really just him being a greedy bitch. 
 Another character I really enjoyed this time - Pam. Pam is righteous, and the only fault I can find is in her choice of clothing. No pink, Pam. You're better than that. I like the relationship she and Sookie are developing, although it's still in its infancy. I'm expecting some entertaining hi-jinks out of these two, Ms. Harris. And as much as I hate to return to an earlier subject, since it suggests that my review doesn't have good form, I'm also excited for the developing romance of Sookie and Eric. We got a glimpse of what he might once have been, and might still be somewhere inside that heap of ego. He has potential. 
 Overall: A
 It was a great read without annoying me even once. And it brought a lot of ideas and potentialities between the characters to the forefront, making me anticipate the forthcoming novels more than ever before. The action was a little lacking, though, and seemed somewhat anti-climactic at the end. Oh well, you can't have everything.

Haruki Murakami: Dance Dance Dance

• ISBN-13: 9780679753797
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Publication date: 1/28/1995
• Pages: 416

In this propulsive novel, one of the most idiosyncratically brilliant writers at work in any language fuses science fiction, the hard-boiled thriller, and white-hot satire into a new element of the literary periodic table.
 As he searches for a mysteriously vanished girlfriend, Haruki Murakami's protagonist plunges into a wind tunnel of sexual violence and metaphysical dread in which he collides with call girls; plays chaperone to a lovely teenaged psychic; and receives cryptic instructions from a shabby but oracular Sheep Man. Dance Dance Dance is a tense, poignant, and often hilarious ride through the cultural Cuisinart that is contemporary Japan, a place where everything that is not up for sale is up for grabs.

 I have a little story about my relationship with Haruki Murakami. When I was in high school, my English teacher, one of the few people I connected with on a level outside of the academic because we were weirdly the same person, except that he used to be a male model and didn't give a flying rat's ass about how cocky he was, suggested I read Murakami. He said he thought I'd really enjoy his work. I was skeptical, mostly because I have such a wide range of interests, it's extremely difficult to predict what I might like. Also, because when people tell me to read or watch something, I'm more likely to put it off, even if I'd been planning to try it anyway. It's a quirk. So, of course it took me something like four or five years to actually read Murakami. And even then it was for a Japanese literature class, and we didn't read one of his more famous works, but a collection of short stories. Although they were bizarre, they were interesting and I agreed that I should read the rest of his magnum opus.
 Starting with Dance Dance Dance because that's the first one I found at Borders' going out of business sale. The nameless protagonist of this tale reminds me of a stoic sea creature - constantly being moved around and carried by the current of the ocean around him, but not incapable of fight or flight when necessary. He's an observer, for the most part, and his life becomes increasingly strange and bizarrely interconnected as he focuses on just living in the moment. There's a Sheep Man that tells him that all you can do is keep dancing. And that's really what life is about, isn't it? We all get hard knocks every once in a while, but we have no choice but to keep moving forward, and keep living. Only by doing this can we be open to those little moments that make life so exciting and worth living. That is the grand philosophical idea that I took from this novel.
 The story is, I said, bizarre. But there's a strange humor throughout. Even as the people around him act irrationally and the threads of them all are brought together, there are moments that the oddity of the circumstances bring levity to the circumstances. He also has a habit of saying utterly out of place things and often only gets a "You're strange" for his pains. Don't worry, dude. I'm with you.
 Overall: A-
 At times, I was a little bored and his stream-of-consciousness writing was oppressive at times. However, it was overall quite entertaining and like I said, I took a rewarding lesson from it.

Laurell K Hamilton: Cerulean Sins

• ISBN-13: 9780515136814
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 9/28/2004
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 560

How the mighty have fallen! Once a sworn enemy of all monsters, Anita is now the human consort of both Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire, and Michah, the leopard shape-shifter. Not quite as human she once was, she is consumed by both their hungers - desires that must be sated time and time again. And when a centuries-old vampire targets Jean-Claude and his clan, Anita finds herself tested as never before - needing all the dark forces her passion can muster to save the ones she loves the most...

 Lord, are we ramping up the sex now. And it's only going to get worse, or so I hear. However, it hasn't gotten to the point that I don't see the point, as I've heard complained on various boards and Wikipedia and what have you. In this installment, Anita has to deal with Belle Mort's envoys, who have arrived in St. Louis before schedule. This, of course, throws Jean-Claude's court into a tizzy, and a slew of complicated vampire politics and relationships cause quite a bit of confusion for our ravishing heroine. (Can we just talk about how much I want Anita's hair? Just for a moment.  -  Okay, moment over.)
 Her issues are further complicated by our erstwhile friend Dolph going off the deep end because his son is marrying a vampire. His anger toward all things associated with "monsters" - Anita included - seriously hinder her ability to do her job when she's called onto a case. Much frustration ensues. And what a gruesome case. We've had gruesome before, which - to become truly disturbing - can only be found in paranormal fiction, since there are no boundaries of physics. For example, tearing apart a human to the point that all is left are bones and goo. A normal human can't do that without the aid of some type of machinery. Thus, the imagination is given limitless opportunity. It's a little twisted that this is what the mind comes up with when there are no restrictions, but that's a subject for a different discussion.
 Anita also adds another suitor to her growing list of guys she's slept with. Possibly two, but I'm not counting non-penetration. Are you? I won't tell you who it is, but it becomes abundantly obvious. Obviously. We also have a return of who I like to call piss-ant-Richard. He is the one incredibly obnoxious part of this series. I started off liking him a lot, but as time has gone and he has failed to adapt to circumstances or even make a lame attempt at an understanding attitude, he has become more and more distasteful. He doesn't change much in this installment. I will give him kudos for coming to Anita's aid on one occasion, but as he follows that with a colossal act of blatant, stubborn stupidity, it kind of cancels that out. I think Anita just needs to punch him in the face or do something else violent to put him in his place. I feel like it's only going to get worse, and from what I've read of future books, I'm not far off.
 Overall: B+
 The Anita Blake series is not going downhill, at least not to the extent I've heard. I think it's still incredibly entertaining and interesting, although Hamilton is increasingly falling to her own personal curse of too much action in too short a time. We have a lot of things going on, and it seems like more time should be passing, only to realize that the day isn't even over. In fact, I think the events in this book take place over a mere two or three days. But the fact that you barely notice says much more about the attention-grabbing power of these novels. I sincerely hope I always enjoy these books as I have been. 

David McCullough: John Adams

• ISBN-13: 9780743223133
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 9/3/2002
• Pages: 752

In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second President of the United States and save the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his sense"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history. 
 This is history on a grand scale - a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas.  Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.

 If you knew me at all, you would know that I am a huge fan of the Revolutionary period of American history (and just kind of history in general, but ya know...). So this book was right up my alley, obviously. Little did I know how very much I was going to learn.
 First, I would like to emphasize that David McCullough is one of my favorite history authors. He's interesting - he tells the story in a way that doesn't make it seem like a rote repetition of facts. He also makes you really feel like you know these people, or at least feel comfortable with the personalities of these long dead personages. Side note: Does anyone realize that it has been almost two hundred years since the death of the last signers of the Declaration of Independence? That is so fascinating to me. Side note over. So, I would recommend any and all of David McCullough's books.
 Now, on to John Adams. Before reading this book, I would have said that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were my two favorite Presidents. They had no precedence, and they managed to turn a fledgling nation into a country with a navy strong enough to defeat the best navy in the world, where democracy thrived and the turn over of power was peaceful - something rarely seen in the world previously. So yeah, they were some pretty amazing guys. However, now I understand that the period of John Adams' presidency was not just a lull in events without interest or achievement. And John Adams was not the staunch man history has created - he did not refuse to compromise, nor was he a warmonger, as he has been portrayed.
 I find the man fascinating, and he was one of the greatest minds of his time. He could read multiple ancient languages, so he was reading Cicero in its original Latin, and he also taught himself French for his time as ambassador to France. Well done, sir. He was also a fairly prolific writer, although at times his rhetoric could  get heated. I don't blame him. People are massively stupid as a species.
 Now that I've ranted about what a fabulous person John Adams was, I think you've gotten an idea of how great this book was. They based a mini-series on it, if you didn't know. I haven't watched that, but I always recommend reading the book before you watch the TV show/movie/what-have-you.
 Overall: A+
 I loved this book, although it did kind of destroy my mental image of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington in the process. But then, of course, as we get older we are forced to accept that people are people and everybody has flaws. That doesn't make them any less great than they were. After reading John Adams, however, you begin to believe that maybe some people were greater than you've heard.

D.J. MacHale: The Quillan Games

• ISBN-13: 9780689869136
• Publisher: Aladdin
• Publication date: 12/26/2007
• Edition description: Reprint
• Pages: 512

 Let the games begin...
 The people of Quillan have lost control of their own future. Hosted by a strange pair of game masters, Veego and LaBerge, the Quillan Games are a mix of spot and combat. To triumph in the games is to live the life of a king. To lose is to die.
 Bobby Pendragon realized he must beat Veego and LaBerge at their own games. But the prize for winning the Quillan Games may be discovering the truth of what it really means to be a Traveler. 

 Oh, Bobby. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. Booby. Oops.
 Pendragon is on a new territory while things are recovering from going horribly wrong on Second Earth. Courtney's not dead (not sure how I feel about that) and Saint Dane is a bastard, which we knew. Weirdly, whereas before we had a problem with Bobby constantly worrying that he wasn't adequate enough to save all the worlds (and who wouldn't?), we now apparently have the opposite problem - Bobby's getting cocky. Honestly, I don't see much of that happening, but maybe my perception of cocky is off. I don't know.
 The games on Quillan are sort of like short little Hunger Games. You win, you live to fight another day. You lose, you die. Bobby manages to squeeze by most of the time, due largely to his training with Loor in the last novel. Also, Saint Dane is noticeably absent for a large portion of the novel, but don't be surprised when he actually does pop up. Quite frankly, I find it ridiculous that Bobby is still incapable of realizing that even if he can't tell if Saint Dane is around, that doesn't mean he's not. Also, you can almost tell at this point which character is secretly Saint Dane. And if you can't...you're probably not the brightest bulb in the box. And Bobby, for all his praiseworthy attributes, apparently isn't either.
 We also have a true disaster for the first time - the worlds are colliding. I'm not going to tell you how, I'll just say that certain things from one territory are showing up on another, and so on and so forth. Bobby was warned about this by Press. The question now is, what is he going to do about it? It's not like he can reverse the damage Saint Dane has done. That's what really got me in this novel - what is the point of it all? Where is it all heading? Pendragon is also pondering this question. 
 Character wise, the most interesting development was the introduction of the Dados, specifically Bobby's personal Dado. While a robot, he at least has some feelings for Bobby and Bobby's plight. I thought that was pretty cool. Also, Courtney has become far less obnoxious than in the last book. She took her knocks like a woman and came out fighting, and has realized that her inability to cope with not being the best at everything put her in some pretty dire straits. And she's adapting. It's a beautiful thing to see. One of the other disappointments of this installment was a distinct lack of Mark Dimmond-y goodness. He's often the only one that has any common sense, and I missed his presence. He's there, don't get me wrong. But this was definitely a Courtney-focused novel. Other than these main characters, we had some interesting minor ones that were pretty well-fleshed out with the limited space they were allotted.
 Overall: B
 Definitely not my favorite Pendragon novel. I'm kind of getting annoyed with Bobby, to be quite frank. A person can only take so much waffling and lack of lesson-learning.